New York to Hawaii Moving Guide
Updated June 17, 2025

Planning a interstate move from New York to Hawaii? This moving guide will help you compare living in New York vs Hawaii across 7 important categories. Compare the pros & cons (like harsh winters vs year-round warmth), food & health (like Bagel with Lox vs Poke), real estate & housing (high-rise apartments, brownstones vs plantation, modern hawaii), weather & wardrobe, cost of living & taxes (it's more expensive in Hawaii), politics & religion, and education.
Key Takeaways:
- Say goodbye to Bagel with Lox and Pastrami on Rye, but get your taste buds ready for Poke & Kalua Pig
- Hawaii housing costs are 86% more expensive than they are in New York
- Rent in Hawaii is 17.36% more expensive than in New York
- Our top recommended New York to Hawaii movers is JP Urban Moving
New York to Hawaii Moving Guide
Pros and Cons of Moving from New York to Hawaii
- Harsh winters
- High cost of living
- Traffic congestion
- Limited beach access
- Concrete jungle
- Year-round warmth
- Lower property taxes
- Relaxed pace of life
- Beautiful beaches
- Natural landscapes
- Car-dependent
- Fewer museums
- Limited job market
- Island time mentality
- More seafood-centric
- Public transport
- Cultural attractions
- Career opportunities
- 24/7 lifestyle
- Diverse dining options
Pros of moving from New York to Hawaii
- Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to year-round warmth
- Look forward to moving away from the high cost of living and moving to Hawaii with lower property taxes
- Swap the traffic congestion of New York for the relaxed pace of life in Hawaii
- Get ready for beautiful beaches in Hawaii
Cons of moving from New York to Hawaii
- Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from public transport in New York to live with a car-dependent lifestyle in Hawaii
- You'll lose out on the pro of cultural attractions and have to settle for the con of fewer museums
- Time to bid farewell to career opportunities and get used to a limited job market in Hawaii
- Swap the 24/7 lifestyle for the island time mentality
New York vs. Hawaii: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene
Comparison | New York | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Most iconic local food item | Bagel with Lox | Poke |
Most popular meat dish | Pastrami on Rye | Kalua Pig |
Most popular street food item | Hot Dog | Spam Musubi |
Most popular vegan food | Avocado Toast | Taro Dishes |
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the state |
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Fitness/Health Conscientiousness | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ | πͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺπͺ |
Abundance of Food Trucks | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Foodie Scene | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ | π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄π΄ |
Vegan Friendly | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± | π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π±π± |
If you're moving from New York to Hawaii, you will be trading the iconic Bagel with Lox of New York for the equally delicious Poke of Hawaii. And while the locals in New York rave about their flavorful Pastrami on Rye and sumptuous Hot Dog, Hawaii residents know they have tasty Kalua Pig and Spam Musubi to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Avocado Toast they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Taro Dishes of Hawaii. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic New York eateries like Katz's Delicatessen, Dominique Ansel Bakery, and Per Se. After the boxes are unpacked in Hawaii, don't wait too long before making your way to Hawaii's acclaimed eateries like Alan Wong's, Helena's Hawaiian Food, and Roy's Hawaii.
When comparing lifestyles, Hawaii shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than New York. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Hawaii, compared to what you are used to in New York. Also, the overall foodie scene is less bustling in Hawaii.
Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between New York and Hawaii
Comparison | New York | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Typical Architecture Style | High-rise apartments, Brownstones | Plantation, Modern Hawaii |
Walkability | ππππππππππ | ππππππππππ |
Bikeability | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² | π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π²π² |
Urban Lifestyle | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ | ποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈποΈ |
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listing | Proximity to public transport, views | Ocean views, sustainable living |
- The high-rise apartments and brownstones architecture that New York is known for will be replaced with the plantation and modern Hawaii architecture typical of Hawaii.
- Compared to New York's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to public transport and views, Hawaii real estate listings often highlight features like ocean views and sustainable living.
- You can keep your walking shoes packed away. Hawaii is less walkable than New York.
- You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Hawaii is less bike-friendly than New York.
- Hawaii has less of an urban feel than New York.
- Hawaii housing costs are 86% more expensive than they are in New York, with a median home price of $858,106 compared to New Yorkβs $460,812.
- Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Hawaii have increased by 38% compared to a 36% increase in New York.
- Rent in Hawaii is 17.36% more expensive than in New York.
Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between New York and Hawaii
Comparison | New York | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Days of Sunshine per Year | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ | βοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈβοΈ |
Avg. Annual Humidity | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ | π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦π¦ |
Avg. UV Index | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ | πΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈπΆοΈ |
Natural Disasters | Blizzards, Hurricanes | Volcanoes, Hurricanes |
Air Quality | Moderate | Good |
Average Summer High/Low (Β°F) | 82Β°F/66Β°F | 88Β°F/75Β°F |
Average Winter High/Low (Β°F) | 38Β°F/26Β°F | 80Β°F/65Β°F |
Annual Rainfall (Inches) | 49.9 | 63.7 |
Annual Snowfall (Inches) | 25.3 | 0 (except mountain tops) |
- Break out the sunglasses for your move from New York to Hawaii. Hawaii gets 23% more sunshine days than New York.
- Hawaii has lower humidity and a higher average UV index compared to New York.
- Say goodbye to the possible blizzards and hurricanes in New York, but be on the lookout for potential volcanoes and hurricanes in Hawaii.
- Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Hawaii is 6 degrees warmer than in New York.
- The average winter lows in Hawaii are 39 degrees warmer than they are in New York.
- Your umbrella might be more overworked in Hawaii. Hawaii receives 13.8 more inches of rain compared to New York.
Financial & Community Snapshot: New York and Hawaii
Comparison | New York | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Avg. Household Income | $79,557 | $92,458 |
Cost of Living Index | 102.8 | 165.7 |
State Income Tax | 4 - 8.82% | 1.4 - 11% |
Avg. Property Tax | 1.68% | 0.28% |
Avg. Sales Tax | 4 - 8.88% | 4.5% |
Top 3 Industries | Finance, Healthcare, Media | Tourism, Defense, Agriculture |
Affluence | High | Middle |
Poverty | Moderate | Moderate |
Homelessness | High | High |
- When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Hawaii tend to earn about 16% more than those in New York
- The COLI in Hawaii will be 61% higher than what you are used to living in New York
- The state income tax in HI is between 1.4% and 11% compared to 4% and 8.82% in NY
- The affluence in Hawaii is middle compared to high in New York
- The poverty level is moderate in Hawaii compared to moderate in New York
- In terms of homelessness, it is high in New York and high in Hawaii
Political and Religious Climate in New York vs. Hawaii
Comparison | New York | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Political Make-up | Democratic-leaning | Democratic-leaning |
Local Politics | Urban Influence | Island Governance |
Religion | Diverse | Diverse with Asian influences |
- New York tends to lean Democratic in its political climate
- Hawaii, on the other hand, is often described as Democratic
- Hawaii's religious environment can be described as diverse with Asian influences
- New York's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse
Education Guide When Moving from New York to Hawaii
Comparison | New York | Hawaii |
---|---|---|
Where most Seniors go to college (top 3) | New York University Columbia University Cornell University | University of Hawaii at Manoa Hawaii Pacific University Chaminade University of Honolulu |
Top 3 Elementary Schools | PS 77 Lower Lab School (New York City) Success Academy Charter School-Bronx 1 (Bronx) Anderson School (New York City) | Manoa Elementary (Honolulu) Noelani Elementary (Honolulu) Maemae Elementary School (Honolulu) |
Top 3 Middle Schools | Anderson School (New York City) East Side Middle School (New York City) Rye Middle School (Rye) | Iolani School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) |
Top 3 High Schools | Stuyvesant High School (New York City) Bronx High School of Science (Bronx) Brooklyn Technical High School (Brooklyn) | Iolani School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) |
Top 3 private high schools | Horace Mann School (Bronx) Trinity School (New York City) Collegiate School (New York City) | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Mid-Pacific Institute (Honolulu) |
Top 3 private K-12 schools | Riverdale Country School (Bronx) Horace Mann School (Bronx) Ethical Culture Fieldston School (New York City) | Iolani School (Honolulu) Punahou School (Honolulu) Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus (Honolulu) |
Top 3 School Districts | Great Neck School District Scarsdale Union Free School District Jericho Union Free School District | Hawaii Department of Education (statewide) |
Top New York to Hawaii Movers
Read our in-depth analysis of the best New York to Hawaii movers with detailed rankings, cost breakdowns, and reviews.